Top-roll-saddle mechanism.



L. T. HOUGHTON. Tor ROLL SADDLE MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIOR FILED OCT. 23, 1907.

927,539, Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. T. HOUGHTON.

TOP ROLL SADDLE MECHANISM.

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr "1.

L. T. HOUGHTON. TOP ROLL SADDLE MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 23,1907.

Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f'lgesses. f. LAM/z LEWIS T. IIOUGHTON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOP-ROLL-SADDLE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 23, 1907.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 398,791.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwis T. IIoUon'roN, a citizen of the United States,residing at orcester, county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Top-RolLSaddle Mechanism, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to top roll saddle mechanism and especially tothe fulcrum and its support for sustaining the weighted lever for thestirrup of the top roll saddle.

It is a desideratum that the stirrup should always stand at right anglesto the top roll saddle, for if the stirrup is thrown out of this correctposition the weight will not be properly applied to the top rolls. It isalso de sirable to be able to adjust the fulcrum of the weighted leverso that the effective pull of the weight on the top roll saddle can bevaried.

In my Patent No. 879,641, dated February 18, 1908, I have illustrated,described and claimed a top roll saddle mechanism in which the fulcrumfor the lever can be adjusted to vary the relative lengths of the leverarms thereof without affecting in any way any change in the position ofthe stirrup, and therefore with the construction shown in saidapplication it is possible to maintain the stirrup always in its rightangular position and at the same time to adjust the fulcrum for theweighted lever thereby to vary the effective pull on the stirrup. Mypresent invention is in the nature of an improvement on the devicedescribed in said patent.

It has for its objects to provide a simplifled construction permittingof the adjustment of the fulcrum relative to the weighted lever, andalso to provide novel means of adjusting the fulcrum support vertically.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated some embodiments ofmy invention, Figure l is a side view of a fulcrum support and fulcrumembodying my invention, said view showing the top rolls in outline andalso showing the roller beam in section; Fig. 2 is a section on the lineca, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view looking to the left of the fulcrum supportand its fulcrum; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another wayof supporting the fulcrum support; Fig. 5 is a section through thesupporting bar 24 on the line c c, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a top plan view ofthe fulcrum support shown in Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1and 4 showing still another form of the invention; Fig. 8 is a sectionon the line 6-1), Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view of the fulcrum holder lookingfrom the right Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing adiflerent form of fulcrum holder; Fig. 11 is a section on the line dd,Fig. 10; Fig. 12 shows the opposite side of the weighted lover from thatshown in. Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 1]. showing aniodi'fication; Fig. 14L is a side view of the lower end of the weightedlever shown in Fig. 13.

The top rolls 2, the bottom rolls 3, the top roll saddle at, and thestirrup 5 from which the weighted lever 6 is suspended may be of anysuitable or usual construction and form no part of the presentinvention, and since the method of operation is well known to thoseskilled in the art, it will not be necessary to further describe themherein.

1 have herein shown several embodiments of my invention in all of whichthe weighted lever 6 is sustained on a fulcrum which is ad justable on afulcrum support thereby to change the relative lengths of the lever armsof the lever, and means are provided for positioning the lever in thedirection of its length so as to maintain the stirrup in the correctposition with relation to the top roll saddle in every adjusted positionof the fulcrum. This feature is claimed broadly in my aforesaid PatentNo. 879,641, above referred to, and heroin I have shown some improvedconstructions embodying said feature.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which show one embodiment of myinvention, the lever 6 is sustained on a fulcrum 7 which extends througha slot 8 in a fulcrum support 9, said fulcrum being secured to andprojccting from a fulcrum holder 10. The fulcrum support 9 mayconveniently be made of sheet metal which can be formed into shape bymeans of dies and as stated, it has the slot 8 through which the fulcrumprojects. The fulcrum holder 10 is adjustably sustained by the fulcrumsupport 9 so as to permit said fulcrum holder with the fulcrum to beadjusted thereby to change the relative lengths of the lever arms of thelever 6. For thus adjustably sustaining the holder 10, I have shown itas provided with a slot 12 through which extends a clamping screw 13that is carried by the fulcrum su )port 9, said screw having a nut 14thereon y means of which the fulcrum holder 10 can be clamped in itsadjusted position.

The weighted lever 6 is provided with the slot 15 which is adapted toreceive the fulcrum 7, and in the preferred embodiment, the portion ofthe fulcrum on which the lever 6 rests is reduced slightly in diameterthereby to form the shoulders 16, and the slot 15 is of a size to fitsaid reduced portion of the fulcrum. Preferably the slot will have anenlarged end 170 which permits the lever to be inserted over the end ofthe fulcrum, and when the lever has thus been inserted and brought intoposition between the shoulders 16, the reduced portion of the fulcrumcan enter the main portion of the slot 15.

To maintain the lever 6 in such a position that the stirrup 5 will havethe correct right angular position with relation to the top roll saddle,I have in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 provided the fulcrumsupport with the laterally-extending flange 11 against which the end ofthe lever 6 rests, said flange operating to hold the lever in itscorrect position regardless of the adjusted position of the fulcrum 7all as described in'said co-pending application. If it is desired toadjust the fulcrum thereby to change the relative lengths of the leverarms of the lever 6, this can readily be done by loosening the nut 14and shifting the fulcrum holder 10 horizontally on the fulcrum supportuntil the fulcrum is in the desired position and then clamping theholder in place by the nut 14. Owing to the fact that the lever ismaintained in its correct position by the flange 11, the shifting of thefulcrum will not change the position of the lever, as will be obvious,but will merely change the relative lengths of the lever arms thereof. Ihave also supported the fulcrum support 9 so that it can be adjustedvertically without changing its position angularly. This is accomplishedby providing said support with the two laterally-extending flanges 17and 18 through which extends the adjusting screw 19, said screw having ascrew-threaded portion 20 adapted to be screw-threaded into the rollerbeam 21. The screw may be provided with the non-circular portion 22 bywhich it may be turned. Since the screw is loosely mounted in theflanges 18, it will be obvious that the fulcrum support can be raised orlowered by merely turning the screw and screwing the latter up and downin the roller beam 21.

The construction of the fulcrum support shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 and ofthe fulcrum holder is such that both parts can be readily formed fromsheet metal by means of dies and can, therefore, be cheaplymanufactured.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 12, the fulcrumholder is secured to and carried by the lever 6 instead of being securedto the fulcrum support as in the previously described embodiments. As

shown in said Figs. 10 to 12, the fulcrum 7 is carried by a fulcrumholder 100 which overlies the lever 6 and is adjustably secured. theretoby means of a clamping screw 101 extending through a slot 102 in thelever. The fulcrum 7 which is sustained by the fulcrum holder extendsthrough the slot 8 in the fulcrum support 9, and said fulcrum sup portis provided with the laterally-extending positioning flange 11 formaintaining the lever 6 in correct osition and is secured to the rollerbeam 21 y the screw 19, all as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8.In this embodiment the adjustment of the fulcrum is accomplished bymerely loosening the clamping screw 101 and sliding the fulcrum holder10 on the lever thereby to shift the position of the fulcrum relative tothe lever. Said lever is maintained in its proper position by the flange11 as in the above-described embodiments.

In the embodiments of the invention thus far described the fulcrumsupport is sustained by the roller beam. In Figs. 4 to 9 I haveillustrated two forms of the invention in which the fulcrum support iscarried by the usual brackets or stands 23 that support the rolls 2 and3. In these embodiments of the invention I interpose a supporting bar 24between. adjacent stands 23 and attach the fulcrum supports to said bar2 1. The bar 24 may be attached to the stands 23 in any suitable way andmay be situated beneath the rolls 3 so as not to interfere. with thestirrup 5. Said bar has formed thereon a plurality of lugs to which thefulcrum supports are secured, said lugs standing between the stirrupsand therefore not interfering with them.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the lever 6 is sustained on a fulcrum 7 whichin turn is carried by a fulcrum holder 10, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,said fulcrum extending through a slot 8 in the fulcrum support 9 andhaving therein a slot 12 through which extends the clamping screw 13 bywhich the holder is adjustably clamped to the fulcrum support. I11 thisembodiment the fulcrum support is also provided with the positioningflange 11 against which the end of the lever 6 rests and. it is providedwith the two laterally-extending flanges 17 and 18 through which thesupporting screw 19 passes. As shown in Fig. 41, however, this screwpasses upwardly through said flanges into the boss 25 on the bar 2 1,and said screw is provided with the collars 26 between which the flanges17, 18 are sustained. The end of the screw is: shown as squared at 27 sothat it may be turned for adjustingthe fulcrum support vertically.

In Figs. 7 8 and 9 I have shown still another form of the invention inwhich the fulcrum support is adjustably secured to the lugs or bossesformed on the bar 24 by means of screws extending through slots in saidfulcrum support instead of by the screw shown in Fig. 4. In thisembodiment the lugs or bosses extending from the bar 2-1 are desig natedby 250 and they are in the form of comparatively thin fins or webshaving flat sides and provided with the opening 30 through which thefulcrum 7 extends. -I he fulcrum support 9 which has the positioningflange 11 as in the other embodiments of the invention is provided withthe slots 31 through which extend clamping screws 32, said screws beingscrew-threaded into the web or lug 250 and serving to firmly hold thefulcrum support in correct position. Said fulcrum support also has theslot 8 therein through which the fulcrum 7 extends. The fulcrum holder10 is clamped by means of a clamping screw 33 to the opposite side ofthe lug 250 from that to which the fulcrum support is secured, saidfulcrum holder 10 having the slot 12 therein through which the clampingscrew extends. In this embodiment the adjustment of the fulcrum holder10 horizontally provides for the desired adjustment of the fulcrum tochange the relative lengths of the lever arms of the lever 6 and theslots 31 provide for vertically adjusting the fulcrum support.

In Figs. 13 and 1 .1., I have shown an embodiment wherein the lever 6 isprovided with a plurality of apertures into any of which the .fulcrum 7may be inserted. In this iembodiment, the fulcrum 7 is shown as carried.by a fulcrum holder 10 which in turn is adjustably secured to thefulcrum support 9 by means of the clamping screw 13, said fulcrumextending through. the slot 8 in the fulcrum support. In making anadjustment of the fulcrum in this embodiment of the invention, it isnecessary to withdraw the fulcrum from one of the apertures 80 and thenafter adjusting the fulcrum holder to the proper position, insert thefulcrum again into the desired aperture. If the apertures 80 are in tworows, as shown in Fig. 14, it may be also necessary to adjust thefulcrum support 9 vertically in order to maintain the correct positionof the lever.

t will be seen that in all embodiments of my invention the fulcrumsupport and fulcrum holder can be readily and cheaply manufactured fromsheet metal and that the corn struetion provides for adjusting thefulcrum without causing any shifting of the position of the stirrup.

I will preferably provide the fulcrum holder 10 with a flange 36 at oneend which may be struck lightly by a hammer or other instrument for thepurpose of adjusting said holder.

The advantage of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and S is that thespace above the roller beam is entirely free and clear and notobstructed by the adjusting screws 19, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to prevent the fulcrum from having contact with the stirrupwhen the fulcrum is adjusted to the limit in a direction toward thestirrup, 1 preferably either provide the stirrup with an offset portion7 6, as shown in Fig. 7, or bend the lower end of the stirrup intosubstantially hook shape,- as shown in Figs. 11.0 and 12, whichconstruction brings the body of the stirrup sufficiently back from thepoint where the stirrup engages the lever so as to avoid all danger ofthe fulcrum coming in contact with the stirrup.

While I have illustrated some embodiments of my invention I have notattempted to show all embodiments and therefore do not wish to belimited to the construction herein shown.

Ilaving fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a top roll saddle mechanism, thecombination with a weighted lever for a top roll saddle, of a fulcrumtherefor adjustable to vary the relative lengths of the lever armsthereof, a fulcrum support for said fulcrum having laterallyextendiingflanges and an adjusting screw extending through said flanges.

2. In a top roll saddle mechanism, the combination with a weighted leverfor a top roll saddle, of a fulcrum support having laterally-extemlingears or flanges, a fulcrum adjustably sustained by said fulcrum support,and an adjusting screw extending through said flanges of said fulcrumsupport.

3. In a top roll saddle mechanism, the combination with a weighted leverfor a ltop roll saddle, of a fulcrum support having a horizontalfulcrum-receiving slot therein, a fulcrum for the lever extendingthrough said slot and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said fulcrumbeing held from vertical movement by the walls of the slot, and means tohold the fulcrum in its adjusted position.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a weightedlever for a top roll saddle, of a vertieally-adjustable slotted fulcrumsupport therefor, a fulcrum for said lever extending through the slotand. adj ustable therein, and means to position the lever in thedirection of its length.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a weightedlever for a top roll saddle of a fulcrum su ort havin a horizontal slot,and a fulcrum holder adjustably secured to said support and providedwith a fulcrum for said lever extending through said slot.

6. In a device of the class described, the i combination with a weightedlever for a top roll saddle, of a fulcrum support therefor, saidfulcrum. support having a horizontal slot, means to sustain said fulcrumsupport for Vertical adjustment only, and a fulcrum holder adjustablysecured to the fulcrum support and provided With a fulcrum for saidlever extending through said slot.

'7. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a Weighted lever for a top roll saddle, of a slottedfulcrum support therefor, a slotted fulcrum holder having a fulcrum forsaid lever extending through the slot of the fulcrum support, and aclamping screw extending through the slot of the fulcrum holder and adjustably clamping the latter to the fulcrum support.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top rollsaddle, of a stirrup suspended therefrom, a Weighted lever for thestirrup, and a fulcrum for said. lever adjustable longitudinallythereof, the portion of the stirrup opposite the fulcrum being offset ina direction away from the fulcrum.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top rollsaddle, of a stirrup suspended therefrom, a Weighted lever for thestirrup, and a fulcrum for the lever

